Results 2,961-2,980 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I have asked the Family Support Agency to supply the requested information to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments on the grounds of appeal in the case of the person concerned have been sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned claimed one parent family payment from 3 July 2008. She has been paid in respect of herself and 3 children. Means of E77.50 per week have been assessed on her claim. In June 2009 she requested a review of her means as her ex husband became unemployed. She was requested to submit evidence of maintenance payments being made to her. A form was sent to her on 5 August as a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Since its introduction, the underlying objective of the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme has been to equip people on social welfare payments with qualifications that will enable them to obtain employment in the labour market. It is a second chance educational opportunities scheme for people on welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education and who would not otherwise...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In order to respond effectively to the growing numbers on the Live Register and the current employment situation, it was decided in the context of the recent supplementary budget to refocus resources on the enterprise strand of the back to work allowance which supports people into self employment. These changes significantly strengthen the supports for jobseekers wishing to move to self...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There is an obligation, under Social Welfare legislation, on customers to notify the Department of any change in their circumstances which may affect their entitlement to payment. Customers are informed of this requirement when notified of the decision on their claim and at subsequent reviews. When a person in receipt of a social welfare payment enters full-time permanent nursing home care...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department have been received and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Under the Pensions Act 1990, defined benefit pension (DB) schemes must meet a minimum funding standard which requires that schemes maintain sufficient assets to enable them discharge accrued liabilities in the event of the scheme winding up. The Pensions Act, and associated regulations, prescribe that defined benefit schemes are required to assess once every year whether they meet the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The average exit age from the labour force in Ireland was 64.1 years in 2006, compared to the EU25 average of 61 years. Notwithstanding this, the Green Paper on Pensions, published in October 2007, discussed the issue of raising state pension age as a measure to assist with the sustainability of the public pension system and to strengthen inter-generational solidarity. As was pointed out in...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Self-employed people including artists are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 3% and are consequently eligible for a narrower range of benefits than general employees who, together with their employers, pay a total social insurance contribution of 14.05%, excluding levies, under the full-rate PRSI Class A. Self-employed workers are not insured against short-term benefits such as illness...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. The position in relation to 2008 and 2009 is set out in the following table: 2008 Provisional Outturn 2009 Estimated Outturn â'¬m â'¬m Income from PRSI 7,983.5 7,400.0 Surplus (+) in the Social Insurance Fund +3,377.0 +1,000.0 The data for 2008 is provisional, pending completion of the audit of the Social Insurance Fund by the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme (SWA), which includes rent supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive. Payment of the basic rate of SWA is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes and have no other income available to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. The transfer of the Domiciliary Care Allowance scheme from the Health Service Executive to this Department arises from a Government decision on 28th February 2006 to reallocate certain functions between Departments and Agencies as part of the health service reform programme. The Department of Social and Family Affairs took over...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Medical Appliance Benefit Scheme offers assistance towards the cost of the purchase of a hearing aid, either analogue or digital. The Department pays up to half the cost of a hearing aid or repairs to a hearing aid, subject to a fixed maximum contribution of €760 per aid. To qualify for Medical Appliance Benefit you must satisfy certain PRSI conditions. A person aged 66 or over must...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned furnished her grounds of appeal and in accordance with statutory requirements the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department were sought. These are now to hand and will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. The 2009 Supplementary Budget introduced new arrangements for access to rent supplement. In order to qualify for a rent...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department have been sought in this case. On receipt of its response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible...